Meaning & use

institution

noun·Everyday

Last updated

An established organization, especially one dedicated to education, religion, public service, or social welfare.

See it in a sentence

The university is one of the oldest institutions in the country.

Marriage is often described as a social institution.

A note on using this word

Institution can refer to a physical organization, like a bank or hospital, or to a long-standing custom or practice a society treats as fundamental.

Words with a similar meaning

organizationestablishment

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

A well-established and familiar person, custom, or practice.

The diner has been a local institution for fifty years.

Make it your own

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